Blue Cat Cafe & Wine Bar Restaurant Review

: Tucked behind a brick courtyard just off City Hall Park, this restaurant --- part wine bar and part steakhouse --- rewards travelers hungry enough to find it. Owners Ozzy and Mariasha Giral extend a warm greeting to diners, who are celebrated like house guests. The café’s cozy European décor swims in red velvet drapes; it's a dimly lit space that evokes funky elegance. Certified Angus beef and local grass-fed steaks dominate the bill of fare, and though house-made treats like vegetarian ravioli are available, the ten-table room caters to red-blooded appetites. Why miss the chance to start with smoked pork ribs or Hudson Valley foie gras? Dishes are complemented with native kale and Vermont’s own Boucher blue cheese. Coupled with steak-friendly pours from around the world, the Girals’ mandate seems clear. Nose the wine list at length, and match crisp salads with clean Prosecco before wading into a sea of lush Australian Shiraz. The bar’s deeply bowled stemware is spot on, affording patrons epic swirls all night long. The cheese plate is a fitting end if you want to keep sipping.